The stamps show iconic images from the television series Thomas & Friends, with the 1st Class stamp featuring Thomas pulling into the station under the guidance of the Fat Controller.
Philip Parker, Royal Mail Stamps spokesperson, said: “In this age of bullet trains and high speed travel it’s great to see that children around the world are still enchanted by a little blue tank engine and his friends.
1st Class – Thomas
Thomas the Tank Engine is a 0-6-0 tank locomotive, based on the LB&SCR E2 Class. He is painted blue with red lining and is number 1 in the North Western Railway (NWR) fleet. Thomas was given his own branch line, which he operates with his two coaches, Annie and Clarabel. He was built in 1913 and arrived on Sodor in 1915.
66p – James
James the Red Engine is a mixed-traffic 2-6-0 tender engine. He is painted red with gold stripes and dome and is number 5 in the NWR fleet. He is quite vain and hot-headed, and loves showing off. He was built 1915 and arrived on Sodor in 1946.
68p – Percy
Percy the Small Engine is a saddle tank engine of indeterminate origins. He is painted green with red stripes and is number 6 in the NWR fleet. He is a cheeky little engine with a strong sense of adventure, who doesn't let anyone push him around, which sometimes gets him into trouble. He arrived on Sodor on 1949 during a railway strike.
76p – Daisy
Daisy is a unique diesel railcar, painted green with yellow lining (similar to the livery of British Railways DMUs in the 1960s), and was built specially for use on the Ffarquhar branch of the NWR. Her number is D1 whereas she originally carried the number 52627. She was built in 1956 and arrived on Sodor in 1961. She first appeared in the book Branch Line Engines.
£1.00 – Toby
Toby the Tram Engine is a 0-6-0 steam tram engine who works on the same branch line as Thomas. He is painted brown and blue and is number 7 in the NWR fleet. He is a wise, experienced engine who knows all there is to know about running a branch line. He was built in 1903 and arrived on Sodor in 1951.
£1.10 – Gordon
Gordon the Big Engine is a 'Pacific' (4-6-2) tender engine. He is painted blue with red stripes and is number 4 in the NWR fleet. He is the biggest engine on the railway, and pulls the Express. He is also very boastful and proud, but good at heart. He was built and arrived on Sodor in 1922.
1st Class – Thomas and Bertie the Bus
In this original illustration from the story Thomas and Bertie (from Tank Engine Thomas Again), Thomas challenges Bertie the bus to a race. Here he is speeding past Bertie at a level crossing in this original illustration by C Reginald Dalby.
68p – James
James ends up covered in tar when he crashes into the yard after failing to pin down his brakes at the top of a hill, fortunately it’s only his pride that is hurt. Original illustration by C Reginald Dalby from the story Dirty Objects in Toby the Tram Engine.
76p – Percy
Percy ends up in the sea when he ignores a sign in Percy Takes the Plunge (from The Eight Famous Engines). Original illustration by John T Kenny.
£1.00 – Henry
In the Sad Story of Henry (from The Three Railway Engines), Henry ends up being walled up in a tunnel as punishment for not wanting to get his paint wet. Illustration by C Reginald Dalby.
First Day Covers
14th June 2011, release features two new First Day Covers – one featuring six new stamps each showing an engine from the famous “Thomas The Tank Engine” series , the other a miniature sheet focussing on famous scenes from the “Thomas The Tank Engine ” books written by Reverend Wilbert V Awdry.
The author’s passion for railways had been inherited from his father and he in turn shared his enthusiasm for railways with his children by telling them stories and illustrating them – this in turn led to a publication in May 1945 of a book entitled ” Three Railway Engines ” which featured ” Edward’s Day Out ” , ” Edward and Gordon ” , The Sad Story Of Henry” and ” Edward ,Gordon and Henry ” .
The rest , as they say is history with a succession of 26 volumes in the Railway Series and an eventual massively popular TV series ,of which the latest episodes are produced using CGI technology.
The new stamps are as follows :
The primary covers has six new stamps :
* 1st Class – Thomas
* 66p – James
* 68p – Percy
* 76p – Daisy
* £1 – Toby
* £1.10 – Gordon
The miniature sheet cover features four stamps :
1st Class – “Goodbye Bertie ” called Thomas
68p – James was more dirty than hurt
76p – ” Yes ,sir ” Percy shivered miserably
£1 – They told Henry ” We shall leave you there for always “
